Hi everyone, I am looking for a high capacity, full size .45 that myself and my wife can handle easily with smaller sized hands. This will be used primarily for Home Defense and I want to get something she will be comfortable with, that I can easily use as well. Any suggestions? My budget is about $900 max, anything under that, and my wallet would surely thank you.

orangello

10-16-2013 10:07 PM

That is a tall order: full-sized, in .45acp, good for small handed users.

The best advice is to go to a rental range and find one that fits your hands best.

I find it unlikely that a full-sized pistol in .45acp is going to be very comfortable/controllable in small hands. A full-sized 9mm, sure; a compact in .45acp, sure; but a full-sized .45acp is not small. I am 6'1-2" tall and about 225 pounds, and my XD45 is a hand FULL. I love my XD45 and it's easy-aiming full size and generous 13 round magazines, but it probably wouldn't be comfortable for somebody who wears size S gloves.

I would say try the XD45 compact (can get sleeve for 13 round mags), the Bersa thunder45 UCP (compact .45), and a revolver in some .45 cartridge (45 long colt, 45 acp (no rim, need moon clips), or maybe .44 special (probably a big framed revolver for .44mag though). With a revolver, you can often change out the big squishy grips for slimmer wooden grips that might work better for you.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to try out one of the 1911's with the 4" barrel, but their capacity is not large.

A tall order on the caliber and high capacity. Why the need for high capacity? 8 and 10 round mags for 1911s are available. A 1911 has a good grip shape, trigger reach, and size for a lot of hands. Has good weight and low bore axis for better control.

I don't feel too bad with 8 rounds of 45 and you can always have a second mag.

2kk2

10-16-2013 10:25 PM

Great recommendations and thanks for the links. My wife doesn't seem to be comfortable with revolvers, so we're most likely looking for a semi-auto.

The high capacity makes her feel safer knowing she has more rounds in case of emergency. Also we're from NJ where all firearms are maximum 15rd cap, so we tend to try and get as close to that mark as possible.

Right now we have an m&p9mm using the small blackstrap.

DeltaF

10-16-2013 10:31 PM

This is a tall order. But we can find something I'm sure.

I think a good starting point would be to get your definition of "high capacity." What's the minimum rounds you want?

You can go all the way up to around 15 or so without getting super bulky.

A good medium sized option would be the ParaOrdinance P13 1911 style pistol. Factory mag in it holds 13. It's an absolute gem to shoot.

But the recoil in any .45 that will fit well in a woman's hands is pretty strong. If your wife has weak wrists or weak hands you may want to drop down to a .40 or a 9mm.

2kk2

10-16-2013 10:41 PM

I'm looking for 12-15 rounds per factory magazine. I noticed most of the 1911's were about 7-8rds per mag and wanted to have more rounds available.

However I am looking at the para you suggested as we speak.

DeltaF

10-16-2013 10:48 PM

The recoil in the paraordinance 1911 style .45 is managed very well. I was shooting my dads at 9 years old. I could blow up tennis ball sized pine cones with it at 15 yards consistently. And I was a very small kid. My sisters can shoot it too. The only one who really doesn't like it has weak wrists.

pabloh

10-16-2013 10:56 PM

Find a Glock 21SF (Short Frame) at one of your local gun stores for her to handle and see how the grip feels!
13+1 rounds of felon repellent!

Pablo : )~

txpossum

10-16-2013 11:29 PM

I have small hands. Years ago I acquired one of the Para high capacity frames, was going to built up a gun. The grip, however, did not feel comfortable in my hands. Later, Para introduced a "slim line" version of the high capacity 1911. I had a P-16 with the slimmer frame, and it felt fine in my hands.

JW357

10-16-2013 11:29 PM

This isn't what you asked but I honestly don't believe the gun you asked for exists. The small hands thing is the wrench in it all. So my suggestion is a shotgun. A 20ga or a 12ga semi-auto are fairly recoil manageable.

Otherwise, if it has to be a handgun, I suggest a S&W M&P. They all come with adjustable back straps. But then again, it's only 10+1 so that doesn't really qualify either.